Ancient Roman Festival Saturnalia and Its Influence on Modern Christmas

Christmas Was Originally a Pagan Holiday. “The Scriptures are wholly silent as to the date of Christ’s birth. The 25th of December, the winter solstice, was not fixed as Christmas until a long time after the New Testament period. But despite serious objections, historical and otherwise, that date triumphed.’ The Julian Calendar was used during…

The Ancient Celts: History, Religion, and Mythology

Anglo-CelticPeople “The true term for the population of these [British] islands, and for the typical and dominant part of the population of North America, is not Anglo-Saxon, but Anglo-Celtic. It is precisely in this blend of Germanic and Celtic elements that the British people are unique—it is precisely this blend which gives to this people…

Halloween – History and Mythology of an Ancient Harvest Festival

SUN-WORSHIP. THE SOURCES OF HALLOWE’EN “If we could ask one of the old-world pagans whom he revered as his greatest gods, he would be sure to name among them the sun-god; calling him Apollo if he were a Greek; if an Egyptian, Horus or Osiris; if of Norway, Sol; if of Peru, Bochica. As the…

Apple – Fruit and Dew of Heaven – Gift from the Eternal Hills

APPLE.—Whether the Apple, the Orange, the Pomegranate, the Fig, the Banana, or the Grape was the actual fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, which tempted Eve in Paradise, will possibly never be settled; but it is certain that not only is the Apple mystical above all the fruits of the earth, but it is the…

Anemone – Delicate Windflower – Passed Down from Antiquity

ANEMONE. Image Credit: Bluestone Perennials Anemone Robustissima Japanese Anemone, Windflower Vigorous and Extremely Hardy “Soft pink single, cup-shaped flowers float above attractive deep green foliage. The most adaptable of the Japanese Anemone. From late summer to fall, there is no flower quite like it in the border for providing late season color. The hardiest to zone…

Amaranth – The “Never-Fading” Emblem of Immortality – Favorite Family of Plants of the Ancients — Including Globe Amaranths and Cockscomb

AMARANTH.— Love Lies Bleeding Image Credit: Eden Brothers A unique growth habit of cascading pink plumes to attract pollinators Annual with bright red hanging blooms Easy to grow summer bloomer that’s great for cut flowers Thrives in bright, sunny growing areas Image Credit: Eden Brothers Red Garnet Antioxidant filled fuchsia leaves makes wonderfully rich microgreens…

Alyssum – A Healing Plant – Believed to Ward Off the Evil Eye

“Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is an annual native to the Mediterranean area which is popular with modern gardeners. “The plant is low growing, about 20 cm tall, with dense clusters of tiny flowers in white, lavender or pink and a sweet scent. “Other Names Sweet alyssum, Sweet Alison, madwort, healbite, sweet Alice, seaside lobularia, gum…

Acanthus – A Plant that Influenced Art and Design

Acanthus has been part of both gardens and design since ancient the time of Ancient Civilizations: Image Credit: The Met Marble pilaster with acanthus scrolls Roman – 1st half of 1st century CE Image Credit: The Met Marble corner acroterion with acanthus scrolls Roman – 1st half of 1st century CEImage Credit: The Met Fragment…